Happy New Years

With 2010 less than 40 hours away I would like to take the time to acknowlege a d thank you all for listening and following....Hopefully this give you insight on how my journey and life is!
Yeah I'm a nut but I Love the person that I am and have grown into..And I realize everyday how BLESSED I am.

HAPPY NEW YEAR's and STAY Blessed

REFLECTIONS: Growing stronger, more resilient and healthier

2009 started out very STRONG you could say for me...I came into this new year Engaged and ready for a new life and family..What I ended the year with was completely and utterly DIFFERENT....

1. I'm not married and I NOW have 2 of the most precious lil BLESSINGS that GOD ever thought to give me! To steal a quote from Sunshine I am "Growing stronger, more resilient and healthier" everyday. So it just seemed very appropiate for this TOPIC!

For all of you who know know me and those who Don't: Today would have been the start of my wedding celebration...to have been completed tomorrow at midnight...I was so super excited for this day...and NOW I'm Still super excited...
Why even though I am not getting married and the major attempt at a "grown-up" realtionship failed I have LEARNED so much about mysekf and my family that has me grateful and realizing how BLESSED I TRUELY AM!
1.I realized that settling for anything Less is never worth the end result
2. Family is Family and no matter what they are always there
3. Accepting everything for what it/they are.
4. Stop making assumptions
5. What is not being said is ALWAYS louder and more important than what is said!

2009 has been a whirlwind of a year...Some bad Mostly GOOD and for that I will go into the new Year not SETTLing...and Growing stronger, more resilient and healthier FOR ME, MYSLEF and I!

2010...Goals

For 2010 My Goals:

My hair Goals:
Reach Ear Length(EL)by 2011
Wear more protective styles
Minimize the amount of manipulation to hair

Business Goals:
Complete Office
Upload Website
Design,Design, Desgin MORE!

Money:
Save at least 3500 for New car
Save 600 for Family Vacay in August
Save 500 for AKA celebration in Oct/Nov.

Children:
use more Spanish around the girls
Pick up Rosetta Stone to Teach girls spanish
have more educational Time at home with the girls

Health:
Gym EVERY week day
spend at least 1.5 in the gym serious workout
Limit soda/coffee
DRINK MORE WATER

Oklahoma Photographer...Juli Barker-BOWEN

here is a great link to an excellant OKlahoma city and surrounding area photographer... She is the KINDEST, SWEETEST person I know..Trust me guys you will definitely want to hire her for any of your picture needs...

Hey just go and chek out her site! herehere

Things to DO 2

So since I am trying new things with my hair..I vow to expand this "newness" into every aspect of my life....You're supposed to bold all of the things on the list you've done. To be only 25, I don't think I've done that bad. Definitely a few more I'd like to try. And a handful I'll do just about anything to avoid.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain. Does Mt Bauldy count?
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (Oh so fresh and oh so clean)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I tried !!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (overdraft on debit cards count?)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
l71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit (Class action suites count?)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ride in a hot air balloon
101. Victoria Falls (between Zambia and Zimbabwe)
102. Iguazu Falls (between Brazil and Argentina)
103. The Great Barrier Reef
104. The Galapagos Archipelago
105. The Northern Lights (the Aurora Borealis)
106. Mardi Gras in New Orleans
107. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
108. Times Square on New Year's Day
109. Oktober Fest in Germany
110. See the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC in full bloom
111. Visit All 50 States: Been to Texas, LA, California, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, New Mexico, OK, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, MS, New York, Michigan, IL, Indiana, Ohio, CO.

NEW Year's RESOLUTIONS and GOALS

FOR 2010:
I am setting myself up to be a Better person, MOM, and Student in all things....
Goals:
1. Complete my business plan and get up and running!
2. SAVE more money! For the year I was able to save just over $2,500. For my responsibilites and Debts Thats really great!
3. KEEP the Gym workouts going! I'm so glad my co worker and friend Motivates me...it helps get my day started and helps me stay healthy.

Resolution:
1. Pay more attention to my Health..More vitamins...more WATER..WATER..WATER
2. Have my business up and running by June 1, 2010!
3. BE MORE ACTIVE in my community and Organization besides Work and United WAY!

A Letter to the Sista's

"I am your brother, your father, your husband and your son. I've seen you in church with big hats on, giving children the evil eye. And at the jail on visiting day, shoring up that wayward man. And at the bus stop in the rain on your way to work. And at the dining table with pen and paper, working miracles of money. When I was a baby, you nursed me, when we were children, I chased you through the house; when we were dating, I missed half the movie, stealing sugar from you. I saw you born; I took you to your prom; I glowed with pride when you went off to school. I have married you and buried you. I love your smile. A million times, you took my breath away." Leonard Pitts Jr.

So many times we LET others Define who and what we say is Beautiful!

Protective Style #1

#13 ivyleague

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Hello ALL
here are a couple of pics of my new style....:)
IT is a lace front wig (Synthetic)....Underneath my hair has been washed and deep conditioned....This has combs and a drawstring so its super secure!
And Rather CUTE if I say so myself...
What cha think?


PS...I'm not leaving the natural scene just yet..just taking a lil hiatus...My hair and I was getting kinda frustrated with each other....Wash n gos and WINTER kinda dont not mix AT ALL...so heres the altenative....

FYI..HARVARD UNIVERISTY

Harvard University Announcement

Harvard University announced over the weekend that from now on undergraduate
students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the
announcement, Harvard President, Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only ten
percent of the students in elite higher education come from families in the
lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not
doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the
income distribution".
If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor
student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay
the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on
undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free,
no tuition and no student loans!

To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making
less than $60,000 a year, visit Harvard financial aid website at:
http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/ or call
the school financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.
SEND TO SOMEONE WHETHER THEY CAN USE OR NOT. THEY JUST MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE
WHO CAN.

LOGO DESIGN

hello all
LADIES, GUESTS anyone PLEASE GIVE SOME advice to follow up with my GRaphic designer
SO NEED SOME HELP!!!!

Started with this:









Ended here:

Small Length Check

Better pictures coming soon as soon as I find the misplaced camera!

#13 ivyleague

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LOVE HER!!! SOPHIE

Sophie Okonedo....ACTRESS




She is very talented....Yes, Sophie Okonedo is black and Jewish - Her Nigerian father and white Jewish mother split when Okonedo was young, and she and her mother moved into the "council housing" of London (on this side of the pond, we call those the projects). Okonedo told Newsweek that a government official once came to their door and wondered why a public housing apartment would have so many books inside. Luckily for Okonedo, those books may have sparked her interest in the writing workshop that started her career.

Apparently, Okonedo was better at dramatic readings than penning her own works, and her writing teacher encouraged the acting bug. He had the right idea; Okonedo soon landed a choice scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, sparking a stage career that started with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her screen acting is not so shabby either; she was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her starring turn in Hotel Rwanda. From public housing to Academy Award nominee, Okonedo's career sounds crazy enough to be a movie in its own right.
Other movies to see: Martian Child, The Secret lives of Bees,and SKIN!

A quarter of a CENTURY~ +1!!!!!

Alas Toda is my birthday so far nothing super extradionary other than GOD woke me up and BLESSED me to see my lovely FAMILY and FRIENDS!!!


BE BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED

Love April

FINALLY FOUND IT!!!!

Ok readers when I first fell into this natural idea I hit every website and friend tha I know and asked for ADVICE!!! I kept getting information about Coconut oil and shea butter and ALL nautral products that everyone seemd to LOVE ..Everyone but the PERSON/THING that mattered the most MY HAIR!
So after hitting the BSS I found Luster's Renutrients Replenishing Style Cream 4oz.
I have found that usually after conditioning hy hair tends to DRY up fast..even with the shea butter and Coconut oil it always feels rather ROUGH and DRY/BRITTLE when I get to work....ARGHH
It got to the point where I was spritzing my air every hr..NOT GOOD!!!! I was/am going through product like crazy...(FYI: the Coconut oil and shea butter does WORK WONDERS FOR MY BABIES HAIR THOUGH)

I have learned that MY COARSE KINKY HAIR loves PARABENS and PETROLEUM...SO HERE THEY COME!!!!

#13 ivyleague

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Sometimes going BACK can mean GOING FORWARD!

Giveaway

#13 ivyleague

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OKAY So here's my FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!!!
I am looking for someone to GIve me a FUNKY name for some earring designed here in the photo....

The first to come up and post a GREAT name in the comment section will GET.........

The pair of earrings that corresponds with their name AND...... A custom Earring holder for them to Display!!!!!!

Please in the comments respond with your NAME and earring name....

The lucky Winner will be Chosen Friday Nov. 27, 2009....COME ALL and COMMENT!!

MY Favorites

A Small run down on what is ESSENTIAL in my WORLD!!!!
My favorite Movie

Starring Larenz Tate and the beautiful Nia Long, Love Jones is the quintessential black romance movie. Darius Lovehall (Tate), a young poet, falls in love with talented photographer Nina Moseley (Long) and the rest of the show is aptly described by the film’s tagline: “Get together. Fall apart. Start over.”
It’s simple-there is nothing to dislike about this classic. If you and your lady have already had dinner, this movie can certainly be the dessert. (Or can put you in the mood for some).

TOPAZ: My birthstone and favorite jewel


My Favorite Tv show..FYI it will be back on BET hopefully in the SPRING!


Gotta HAVE my HAIR INSPIRATIONS:


Classic Hair BOWS:


BANGLES:

Uncle Rusell's Letter to Bill Cosby

There are a lot of great entertainers who do great things. Bill Cosby is one of them. He has always used his voice to right what he thought was wrong. However, I believe that too often Mr. Cosby has wrongly placed the blame.

Bill Cosby is an example of someone from the older generation who has consistently blamed the poets and asked suffering community members to bare the full burden of guilt for the struggles that they endure. It is certainly not that he and the rest of the elders don't care, because they do. In fact, their intentions are pure and good. All the things they say are actually true. What they don’t understand is that the young people who they criticize did not create their own realities. They did not create the crumbling education system that we school them in. They did not create the drug epidemic and drug wars that have resulted in a dysfunctional family structure. They did not create the health care crisis that does not treat them. They did not create the culture of violence that they fall victim to.

While it is true that each one of us can make a change at any moment, it is equally true that at every minute we are all doing the best we can. If you knew better, you would do better. Therefore, those who care and have resources could/should work to create the kind of support systems that could inspire change. From the preacher who lifts our consciousness and asks us to reach for strength to the politicians and philanthropists who put programs in place to support our growth. When the President brought the Cosby attitude to his NAACP speech a few months ago, I was disappointed. It is nice to tell black people to stand up, but isn’t that really Min. Farrakhan's job? The President's job is to tell them to walk to the program that he placed on their corner. It is our job to instill the inspiration that gets a young person to walk into the program and not stand on the corner.

We love Cosby and all the older types who judge and blame the poets or culture for the sadness that the poets point to from their realities. From a place of love, I am letting the older generation know that they must admit that young people are less racist, less sexist, less homophobic, less prejudice than their parents and far less than their grandparents. Mr. Cosby, you know that your generation is carrying a lot more dirt, you are all just smart enough to cover it up. Old people are quicker to destroy the planet, abuse the animals and promote wars and then act like young people are violent. Young people are more compassionate, giving, promote gay rights, animal rights, human rights, protect the environment and want to end the wars. When they point out the contradictions that come up and say it on a record and say it LOUD, you can’t believe it! The culture and the poetry is a mirror of the realities that they expressing. Instead of criticizing, let us recognize the faults of adults, because until that happens you all will continue to turn off young people from your message and further alienate them from your generation.

I love Bill Cosby. Who doesn’t? I love him so much that is why I am writing this blog. But this is not just about Mr. Cosby. I know that tomorrow there will be headlines that read “Russell Simmons attacks Bill Cosby.” But let’s be clear, this is a call-out to all the adults who are judging more and listening less to the beautiful, progressive voices that come from our young people…Bill Cosby just happens be on the front line. This is about two generations reconciling...I guess because of my age, you would say that I am stuck on the other side, but I will always recognize that young people can use support instead of judgment. We need to have the hard conversation and both sides need to listen – if you need an office to do it in, my door is always open.

with great love
all things are possible

-Russell Simmons

Hairfluence #5

INTRODUCING Joceyln "PRETTY AKA"


LADIES let me preface this by saying I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at Ms J's pictures...Not only is she my SOROR but she is a great fashion MASTER....Please take a moment to browse her pics and read her comments!

NM: What’s your name how old are you and where are you from?
Jocelyn, 26, Nashville

NM: Why did you make the decision to go natural, and when did you do it?
I went natural in high school because I had a basketball coach who was naturally curly




NM: What products/ingredients do you use?
Ive used soooo many but now I staying with Ms. Jessies and KINKY CURL (i love it)

NM: Could you describe your regimen?
I had a regimen before I found the kinky curl but not anymore it works wonders


NM: What mistakes have you made in your natural journey that you've learned from?
Using products for white girls and bleaching my hair!!



NM: Where do you get style inspiration from?
I love the 80s so I like to spin off on their style

NM: How does your hair work for your life?
It works great because I don't have to worry about rain or sweating my hair while doing hot yoga! (info plug..but Ladies Hot Yoga is not for the meek..LOL )

NM: Did it take long for your hair to grow out?
It didn't take long at all. It actually grew alot quicker when i conditioned it more and stopped using curling irons.


NM: What's the best thing about being natural?
Exactly what it says, I'm 100% NATURAL

NM: Favorite Quote?

Never lower yourself to the level of your opponent or you will never be a true contender of the game.

and anything else you'd like to add for your POST!!!

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

In preparation of Daylight savings time I set my clock 10 mins faster each day so that the new time wouldnt be tha big of a shock for me...I have abig problem with time changing. I would rather it stayed the same....Since I'm in a building Majority of the day I dont see the efects for a new time..Doesn't really bother me one way or another..Its light when I get out the car in the morning and light when i get ready to head home :)....
But Since I got my schedule all our of wack I've been waking up extra early according to my clock...So It's time I put my time to GOOD use....
Since the 1st I have been going to the GYM faithfully...
Im settin my schedule as is :
MON, WED, FRI- Cardio
Tue, Thr- Wieght Training and toning
Sat..free day kids activity
Sun.. light walking around the block..until it gets to cold for the girls..Trust pushing a 2 person stroller is a workout!

Right now I weight 125lbs even....I'm looking mainly to Tighten my Mommy Tummy and tone up...

Any sugestions would be nice!!!!

COLD REGIMEN

Now that the cold and wet weather has set in I needed to make some changes to my daily routine..NO more Wash and Go's...might be why I caught the FLU this year ?
SO in order to facilitate some growth and moisture in the new environment I'm and going to try this.

Poo-ing every 3 to 4 days...Deep conditioning with MTG. Herbal Essense Hydrationconditiner and OLIVE oil


For moisture and sealing I will be using Olive oil mixed with a lil bit of coconut oil and Shea butter....

Inspiration

In what you say of another, apply the test of kindness, necessity and truth, and let nothing pass your lips without a 2/3 majority.

HAIRFLUENCE #4

................Introducing CAREE!!!!

NM: What’s your name how old are you and where are you from?
Caree Banton, 27, from Jamaica

NM: Why did you make the decision to go natural, and when did you do it?
I always wanted to go natural, mostly because I really loved Lauryn Hill's look when she bursted on the scene with the Fugees in the early '90s. But also because I really wanted to make a statement to my really snobbish family--have them think twice about judging the lifestyle of Jamaican Rastafarians. I figured if somebody in their family have dreadlocks too, then ... I wanted to go natural from the late 90s but since I had to remain in my parents' home, it thought it most prudent to wait. I decided, after several attempts in college, to finally grow looks around the end of 2002.



NM: What products/ingredients do you use?
I started out using lock it up, then there are some Jamaican mango lime products (smells great and available at most hair stores)


NM: Could you describe your regimen?
Hmmm, I don't have much of one. Sometimes I like having it neat and sometimes I like it looking real unkempt!

NM: What mistakes have you made in your natural journey that you've learned from?
One time my roots had grown out so much I decided to texturize it. (don't do that, makes your hair really weak).


NM: Where do you get style inspiration from?
I really hate the elaborate styling of dreadlocks. But sometimes if I am wearing something really chic I will do my hair up nicely. I consider myself some kind of a bohemian-chic girl, so I often come up with hairstyles that reflects that!

NM: How does your hair work for your life?
Hmmm, when I played college soccer it was great! No sweating out perms and all this other crap. But my hair is beginning to get on my nerves now. Mostly because I like changes and having dreads don't allow for much versatility. You also find that maintaining dreadlocks can take up just as much time (sometimes even more) than having a perm. That defeats one of the purpose of why I got them in the first place!

NM: Did it take long for your hair to grow out?
If you put braids (extensions) in your hair, it will grow out quickly, i've found.


NM: What's the best thing about being natural?
The absolutely best thing is that you don't look like a Rhianna wannabe! Everybody else walking around in the same hairstyle, all this fake ass wigs, hair pieces, running from themselves...They all FAIL and lose at life! I like looking different!

NM: Favorite Quote?
Happy to be Nappy homie!

and anything else you'd like to add for your POST!!!
April, I'm really impressed with your move. I admire you for that. Let's keep in touch.

HELP

***As family I do respect you all's opinion so please respond. I am trying to find a better way to get them to know each other but not make Kaygan feel like shes being forced away!


SO I am definitely feeling some kind of way RIGHT now...and let me tell you WHY!!!
I know at times I can be real emotional and MOST people can not handle that about me but Last night, My 2 year old daughter asked me why her Daddy couldn't spend her birthday with her?

Right the look on her face was so SAD...It made me cry..For Cryng out loud she's 2 and has to process this type of emotion already...I know I cant PROTECT her from everything BUT DAMN IT its my job to TRY and at this point in OUR lives I just dont have the time or energy to waste on ANYONE who isnt on the same page as me!
SO here's a lil background story if you dont already know....me and her father havent been together for almost 3yrs now...which is fine..WE didnt work but we were BLESSED with her and now have to find a way to be BETTER PARENTS...Better than our PARENT at least (we are both from broken homes).
No niether on of us are perfect not trying to pretend to be but I do know my daughter and I know on a certain level how she's gonna respond. WE stay in Oklahoma he in Cali....
She has only seen/meet her father a total of 5 maybe 6 times. So to her he is a STRANGER...But for some reason he CAN not or refuses to see this....WE argue everytime we talk because I wont allow him to take her with him to Cali or even an hour away if she doesn't want to go...and after last night I am still standing firm in my decision. HE is not very consistent with TRYING to stay in contact with her and everytime he comes to visit WE (my family and I) break our backs to try and make him and his company feel welcome and accomadating to their schedules...Taking off of work...leaving school early....DOING EVERYTHING so that Kaygan is comfortable around them...
WELL NOT ANYMORE...I'm gonna start being SELFISH for the sake of my daughter...SHE needs consistency, LOVE and most of all understanding and since it seems like I'm the only one who thinks or cares about that then I guess the rest will just have to fall in line!
LOL...When I first started this I was gonna ask for ways to try to communicate better with her father and maybe ways to try to be more accomadating...
But I realized that the only person I need to worry about accomadating is KAYGAN RENEE COURTNEY!

BOOT, BOOTS, BOOTs

I consider myself the fashionista on a BUDGET!!!
so here are a couple of cute boots that are very budget friendly!

KAYGAN is TWO

Two years ago, I got one of the best SURPRISES MY first BORN daughter Kaygan Renee was born at 6:36am after only 4 DRUG-free relatively easy hours of Labour. Even after Graduating Highschool and College with a double Bachelors' Degree I will say that SHE is the one of the BEST things that I have EVER made or accomplish...
My lil girl's smile can Brighten anyone's day and when she looks up at me and sayd "mommy" no matter what my heart melts....Kaygan Mommy' LOVES YOU





***her sister Jayla is just as cute too..but I am a lil BIASED!!!
Jayla and Cousin Raja sleeping